Zoladex User Reviews & Ratings (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2014

For Endometriosis "I recently had injection number 5 out of a six-month course of Zoladex for endometriosis. I am 31 years old and have already had 4 laparoscopies- fortunately, I do not want children. For those who are scared, the injection does not hurt. You can opt to have an anesthetic anyway. Although I no longer suffer from the horrific pains, constipation, and vomiting associated with my periods, I do still experience bleeding after my injection along with cramping, which as far as I know is not normal considering the aim of Zoladex is to effectively induce a medical menopause. This was meant to cease after 2-3 injections. But I guess everyone is different, this is what gynecologists are for- speak to them!"

• Jim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 14, 2024

For Prostate Cancer "I had radical prostate surgery some 22 years ago. Was checked regularly for PSA levels and they were good (0.1 to 0.3) for many years. About two years ago the PSA jumped to 5.0 and was 17.8 prior to taking Zoladex. The PSA level dropped to 0.6 and my testosterone level went from 1.9 to 0.4. Unfortunately, I had many side effects which included swollen hands, knuckles, and wrists; extreme pain in my shoulders, and a very lethargic feeling. I have lost a significant amount of strength and have little ambition to exercise as the pain in my shoulders and hands is too great. I used to play a lot of golf, but now have little desire. My medical team is taking me off Zoladex after two injections because of the side effects. Will be starting my radiation treatment soon. Hopefully, I can recover and get back to a normal life. The Zoladex did do its job, but there were consequences."

• Spr...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 26, 2016

For Breast Cancer, Palliative "I'm now 33 and have been taking Zoladex for 2 years alongside Tamoxifen for 10 years in the UK. This medication gave me the confidence not to have chemotherapy, and for this, I am grateful. The downsides are pretty bad, though. I agree with the previous reviewer. Mood swings, increased body temperature, severe hot flushes and night sweats (trying acupuncture to help), increased sex drive, no periods, significant weight gain! I went from 7.5 stone to 9.5 stone in 18 months, having never had much fluctuation in my weight ever before. My bra size also increased 3 cup sizes. I have gone from being very healthy and slim to quite flabby and 'technically' (BMI) overweight - which hits hard when you feel low self-esteem because of surgery anyway."

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 15, 2023

"I was prescribed Zoladex to help stop the growth of my fibroid, it did just that. However, I was thrown into menopause at 21 years old, which is far too young to be experiencing such symptoms. It was awful: the sweating, the irritability, the weight gain, which I’m still, to this day, having so much trouble losing. I stopped Zoladex twice, the first time my period returned within three months, the second time stopping Zoladex, my period still hasn’t returned, and it’s been six months after my last injection. Still to this day, I’m irritable, and I believe Zoladex has made my depression far worse than it was before starting it. There is a chance my periods won’t return, which is devastating as I am still very young. I would go as far as to say Zoladex has ruined my life. I do not feel the same person as I was before taking it."

• Pet...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 15, 2016

For Endometriosis "I have been put on Zoladex 3.6 by my Gyno. The first few weeks, I thought it was a godsend! It stopped my endo pains and stopped my period... But then I started suffering from migraine/headaches, no sex drive, extreme bone pain, no appetite - and if I try to make myself eat, then I vomit, nausea, irregular sleeping patterns, and signs of anxiety/depression because I've been missing days off of work! I'm due for my 4th injection in two days, and the whole treatment plan I am on is for 6 months. I have never felt this sick in my whole life :( Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? Can someone help me?"

• jun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 19, 2015

For Endometriosis "I was diagnosed with stage 4 endometriosis and adenomyosis at 25. I am now 50. I have had 18 laparoscopic surgeries to burn off endo to keep it at bay. I have been put on Zoladex 3 times in the last 10 years, and I have to say that it has been absolutely fantastic every time. Stopped my periods and my pain, which was unbearable at times to the point where I ended up in the hospital having morphine injections numerous times. Yes, I did get hot sweats and a little weight gain, but I will take that any day over the kind of pain that endometriosis brings. The only downside is that you do have to come off it periodically, as you can't stay on it for long periods of time due to its effects on bone density."

• Nat...
• July 8, 2019

For Endometriosis "I was absolutely dreading being put on Zoladex for 4 months before excision surgery - so much that I delayed surgery for 2 years. I am on my 3rd monthly injection now, and I must say I have been pleasantly surprised! I had some spotting 2 weeks in, but my endo pain has mostly subsided, and the hot flushes/headaches/insomnia have been totally manageable. I do feel quite forgetful and slightly achey, but so far no depression. If anything, my moods have improved (probably due to less pain!). I have been taking a methylated multivitamin and low-dose naltrexone at night, plus 30 mins exercise a day, maybe these have all helped. I wouldn't want to be on it longer than 4 months, but it definitely hasn't been as bad for me as I was anticipating. A lot of ladies do really seem to suffer on it, but maybe the people with positive experiences don't tend to write reviews? So I thought I would. My consultant also said they can offer HRT if the side effects are too bad, but I haven't needed it so far."

• Anonymous
• October 28, 2010

For Endometriosis "I was given a 3-month injection with terrible side effects culminating in night sweats every 40 minutes, shivers, difficulties in breathing, headaches, neck pain, and eventually severe depression. The side effects started showing at week four. I had never experienced depression prior to this. After 6 months, sufficient levels of the medicine remain in my system to continue affecting me. Other medication (Provera) prescribed by my gynecologist to counter those symptoms have given me some relief, although it took 3 weeks for that to occur, rather than the 4 days expected."

• Pat...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 11, 2019

For Endometriosis "I have been on Zoladex for 5 years now. My hair is still falling out, which was beautiful and thick, now dry and thin. My skin is always dry, my hands sometimes crack, so I have had to take high doses of calcium as it is now thinning my bones. I also take zinc and iron to help with my hair and the constant tiredness. I take antidepressants but have terrible mood swings. However, I will keep taking the Zoladex as this by far outweighs constant hospital visits and staying in due to extreme bleeding, and then having to have blood transfusions on 2 occasions. It has changed my life as I don't have as many hospital visits and have not had to have another transfusion since."

• 36y...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 27, 2022

For Breast Cancer, Palliative "Very bad reaction. I'm a 36-year-old woman diagnosed with breast invasive ductal carcinoma. After lumpectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, I was put on Zoladex, and I developed rheumatoid arthritis after 2 months of the 1st Zoladex injection. Very bad hot flushes, I felt I was burning alive. Bad temper too. Talked with my oncologist and refused to keep doing Zoladex. After 2 months without Zoladex, I no longer have hot flush symptoms, and arthritis symptoms have improved but not gone."

• Lev...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 23, 2019

For Endometriosis "On my 3rd and final monthly injection of Zoladex for endometriosis. Suffered from mild headaches, very frequent hot flushes, fatigue, low libido, and feeling a bit grumpy some days, but... no more Endo pain, which feels amazing. The side effects were not constant and were totally manageable. Hot flushes were the worst side effect, and although I have about 1 an hour, they only last a couple of minutes. Not looking forward to coming off it."

• Moa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 4, 2019

For Prostate Cancer "Zoladex causes confusion. This also affects your heart and can cause heart problems or attacks. It had many dangerous side effects, so be sure that you are aware of these before commencing with this powerful and dangerous drug."

• Anonymous
• January 8, 2012

For Endometriosis "My doctor suggested this for endometriosis. 6 months of injections, total agony. The injection itself is tolerable if the person giving it knows what they are doing. Every symptom of menopause hit me within 2 or 3 weeks. No weight gain. It did stop my periods. After 4 years of suffering and 2 of that in and out of doctors, I'm completely frustrated and exhausted."

• Mic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 2, 2025

For Prostate Cancer "No problems initially with Zoladex, but about a year later I noticed that my blood/sugar levels had risen significantly, so much so that I now have Type 2 diabetes. If you read the side effects of Zoladex (and there are many), you will note that “Zoladex can raise your blood/sugar levels.” So please have your HbA1c levels checked regularly."

• Poo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 5, 2021

For Endometriosis "I have severe endometriosis and multiple, persistent fibroids and have had two courses of Zoladex - one for 6 months in the run-up to an operation. The other was meant to be for 4 months, but I only managed three. I found the side effects too much to cope with: hot flushes, joint pain, depression, anger, tearfulness, hair loss, insomnia, appetite changes... I already have a lot of joint and body pain due to other health problems, which may be one reason why I found it hard to cope. For me, the worst thing is the low mood, which isn’t helped by the insomnia. I hope I never have to take this drug again. For me, it was a terrible experience."

• Sur...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 1, 2019

For Breast Cancer, Palliative "The side effects from this drug have not been as bad as I expected them to be. Hot flushes are the worst of it, particularly at night. I have gained a small amount of weight, but I am trying to eat healthily and exercise regularly to try and combat this."

• Cla...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 7, 2016

For Endometriosis "My experience was horrible, side effects, it didn't help my pain much and certainly didn't shrink my endometriosis. I got my last shot 2 months in 2001. Now, since 2010, I have suffered severe pain in my joints and bones. I wouldn't recommend this drug to any endo girls."

• Jan...
• September 21, 2018

For Bleeding Disorder "I’m 40 and have no children. I was suffering abnormal bleeding due to fibroids, but no pain. I was losing so much blood, I had been rushed into the hospital on several occasions. The bleeding caused me to suffer severe anemia. I was really happy when Zoladex was suggested, as it meant I didn’t have to have a hysterectomy. Unfortunately, my experience was not good. I had my first injection, and about 2 weeks in, I was having cluster headaches, depression, my whole body ached, I was getting confused, the hot sweats were unbearable, I put nearly 2 stone on, and I was an emotional wreck. I still had the second injection and was taking HRT to help, but the Zoladex was taking over. The gynecologist had then told me not to have the 3rd. My last one was 7 weeks ago, but I’m feeling so much better already. I would never have Zoladex again. I’m booked in for a hysterectomy now and can’t wait for it all to be over so I can get back to being myself. I would never take Zoladex again."

• Ros...
• August 24, 2018

For Endometriosis "I had my first injection 3 months ago to treat endometriosis before a second laparoscopy. I read the terrible reviews, and as an otherwise fit 24-year-old, I was absolutely TERRIFIED about the weight gain, insomnia, headaches, sickness, hot flashes, etc. But I wanted to post a review because it hasn't been that bad! The needle is large, but I just make sure I look away, and it just feels like a small sting. For the first month, I had no side effects. In month 2, I had headaches and hot flashes, but nothing that paracetamol (acetaminophen) couldn't treat! In month 3, the headaches have gone, but the hot flashes are frequent. They're annoying, and they wake me up every night, but it hasn't stopped me from living my life normally (going to work/gym, going on holiday, nights out with friends, etc.). Although my endo is severe, I'm lucky that my symptoms are minimal, so I haven't noticed a change, but I've read Zoladex helps people who have a lot of pain. Waiting on one more injection before my laparoscopy next month."

• Wot...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 26, 2016

For Endometriosis "I was given an injection of this after a week-long stay in the hospital for extreme pain due to endometriosis. They told me it would keep my pain down until surgery, and for me, it was the most awful experience. I was still in pain, and on top of that, I had to deal with intense sweating, very bad mood swings, and feeling extremely tender, and my joints were sore. It made the month running up to surgery miserable for me and those around me. I would never, ever go on this again."

• sta...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 30, 2021

For Endometriosis "You know, these reviews had me horrified when I first started this medication 6 months ago. I was a mess of anxiety because I thought this stuff was gonna be horrible. So let me tell you, don’t worry! People are more likely to write about their negative experiences rather than their positive ones. I’ve literally had zero side effects from these injections. My periods stopped after the first one. I spotted up until the 4th one. I have severe stage 4 endo, so I do still have symptoms from that. But the actual injections are nothing. They numb my stomach before injecting. I feel a slight pinch, and that’s it. I have no hot flashes, nothing. I just wish it 100% took my endo pain away. Hopefully, my surgery will help for a little while, at least."

• sam...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 10, 2019

For Breast Cancer, Palliative "Twenty-one years ago, I was given Zoladex as breast cancer treatment. I stopped treatment after 18 months as the hot flushes were severe. Now, two decades later, they are still horrendous. Has anyone else had this experience?"

• Con...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 27, 2022

For Prostate Cancer "I had my implant 6 weeks ago. My PSA dropped significantly, but the side effects were severe: night sweats even though my air conditioning was set at 17°C. My average blood pressure rose from 120/65 to 140/75, and my blood sugar also rose from 5.5 to 8.3. So Zoladex works, but beware that the side effects can be quite distressing."

• Thi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 1, 2018

For Prostate Cancer "Zoladex hammered down my PSA from 50 at initial diagnosis to 5 after 6 weeks of treatment. Intention is to shrink and damp down tumor activity before prostatectomy. Having cancer is depressing, but this seems effective. How can one tell what symptoms are from the drug and what is from the other conditions one has and from the ideas one has about having cancer? (UK patient covered by free NHS care)"

• Anonymous
• November 27, 2011

For Endometriosis "I have used Zoladex 3-month implant for 9 months, as I suffer from pulmonary endometriosis. Zoladex was the only medication that successfully stopped my periods and stopped my lungs from collapsing every cycle. Positives would be no mood swings, clear skin, and no periods, therefore, no pain. Negatives would be I gained 10 kilos, which I'm working on losing, but the weight was better than having horrific lung pain. I did have a small amount of bone pain, but this has stopped since I've been off the medication for a month. The other negative is it's only subsidized in some parts of Australia. In one state, it's $25, in the other, $1000 for three months. I hope this helps. In many ways, Zoladex has helped me live a normal life again."